Nov. 25, 2017
07:28 am JST

They said they had thought about seeking the death sentence but "reluctantly gave up the idea in light of striking a balance (of punishment) with other similar criminal cases."

Once again, you have to kill more than one person here to be considered "eligible" for the death sentence.

If there ever was a case to set a precedent this would have been it! He should be locked away, but part of me is more angry that my taxes are going to be used to support him for the rest of his natural life! He is young, which means it's going to be a very, very, long time!

Nov. 25, 2017
07:30 am JST

While the southern Japanese island prefecture has been following the trial of Shinzato, which began last week, a 21-year-old U.S. Marine was arrested on Sunday over an alleged drunk-driving accident that killed a local resident in Naha.

On the following day, the U.S. Forces in Japan prohibited all U.S. service members from drinking alcohol on or off base.

Unless there is a separate agenda here, THIS information is totally irrelevant to the story at hand.

Nov. 25, 2017
07:37 am JST

It is relevant to the issue itself, since it is being finally addressed. Too late, of course, but... better late than never?

I doubt he will get life sentence. Though, considering I am familiar with Japanese law system only from the television series, I guess it is quite... strict. But serving twenty years outside the society will not do any harm for a youth he is. Not anymore than equal, if not less. Better late... than never.

Nov. 25, 2017
07:44 am JST

I mean, you read English, right? This is black text on white page regarding the U.S. marines' crime on foreign soil. This is not a separate issue, but an overall problem with the base and its contents itself. Which has started being addressed only now, after how many people died? At least 2.

Nov. 25, 2017
09:33 am JST

Nov. 25, 2017
11:02 am JST

Kenneth Franklin needs to serve the rest of his life in Japanese prison as an object lesson. It was an extremely brutal rape and murder. No remorse and no apology to the victim's family mean extreme measures need to be taken.

Nov. 25, 2017
02:10 pm JST

Nov. 25, 2017
02:23 pm JST

He will not go into the the Japanese correctional system if he was SOFA status at the time of the murder I think?

Sofa rules will not permit this to happen. But I am no expert.

He has been tried here (found guilty) then he will go through trial in the U.S. If he is Sofa.

Military prison is more like it ( real rough) hard time is what I would like to see for this scum bag. Now if he is P.R. or spousal visa status, he is going to prison in Japan a long time. Now since he has the family name (Shinzato). He must be P.R. or spousal status. The U.S. will cut ties and they will throw him under the jail here.

I wish there was more information in the story. He needs to show remorse to victims family.

If he has any retirement monies or savings the victims family should get it all. I know money cannot take the place of a life. But it might ease some pain for the family.

Nov. 25, 2017
03:45 pm JST

He will not go into the the Japanese correctional system if he was SOFA status at the time of the murder I think?

Please avoid spreading misinformation about SOFA status protections. SOFA status does not protect US personnel from Japanese prison. I don't mean to sound like a dick but I often hear this false point touted by anti base posters on these boards.

Also I wouldn't put too much faith in those numbers. I knew a guy who was convicted of attempted rape because a girl said he groped her on the train. They gave him a suspended sentence, why, because there was no evidence of attempted rape. Courts will often convict without evidence to keep the conviction rate high and then grant suspended sentences. If there we're over 12 major incidents a year in Okinawa, you would hear about each and every one.

Nov. 25, 2017
09:39 pm JST

I mean, you read English, right? This is black text on white page regarding the U.S. marines' crime on foreign soil. This is not a separate issue, but an overall problem with the base and its contents itself. Which has started being addressed only now, after how many people died? At least 2.

One, this is an article about a civilian who committed a horrible crime. This is not about the Marines on Okinawa.

Let's take your attempt at connecting two parallel lines with this response.....JSDF member kills their family, OH it's an issue about a cop, (former SDF) who killed someone and then committed suicide. He's "former" SDF so it's and issue about Japan Self Defense Forces not being able to control their people!

Nov. 26, 2017
04:34 pm JST

The proposed punishment certainly fits the crime. I have read several accounts about life in a Japanese prison and saw a documentary on the subject. If any of that is half true I would choose death over life in that environment.

Nov. 27, 2017
02:18 am JST

SOFA has nothing to do with this criminal case. SOFA ... Japan promised never militarized and Eisenhower guaranteed US. Military wild protect A pan from Russia and China. Nothing to do with this kind of crimes. Okinawan DA is softbon American crimes. Some organization might appeal to mainland upper court.